US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

37 U.S.C. § 302b

Special pay: dental officers of the armed forces

(a)

Variable, Additional, Board Certification, and Incentive Special Pay .—

(1)
An officer who—
(A)
is an officer of the Dental Corps of the Army or the Navy or an officer of the Air Force designated as a dental officer; and
(B)
is on active duty under a call or order to active duty for a period of not less than one year,
is entitled to special pay in accordance with this subsection.
(2)
An officer described in paragraph (1) who is serving in a pay grade below pay grade O–7 is entitled to variable special pay at the following rates:
(A)
$3,000 per year, if the officer is undergoing dental internship training or has less than three years of creditable service.
(B)
$7,000 per year, if the officer has at least three but less than six years of creditable service and is not undergoing dental internship training.
(C)
$7,000 per year, if the officer has at least six but less than eight years of creditable service.
(D)
$12,000 per year, if the officer has at least eight but less than 12 years of creditable service.
(E)
$10,000 per year, if the officer has at least 12 but less than 14 years of creditable service.
(F)
$9,000 per year, if the officer has at least 14 but less than 18 years of creditable service.
(G)
$8,000 per year, if the officer has 18 or more years of creditable service.
(3)
An officer described in paragraph (1) who is serving in a pay grade above pay grade O–6 is entitled to variable special pay at the rate of $7,000 per year.
(4)
An officer who is entitled to variable special pay under paragraph (2) or (3) is also entitled to additional special pay for any 12-month period during which an agreement executed under subsection (b) is in effect with respect to the officer. Such additional special pay shall be paid at a rate determined by the Secretary concerned, which rate may not exceed the following:
(A)
$10,000 per year, if the officer has less than three years of creditable service.
(B)
$12,000 per year, if the officer has at least three but less than 10 years of creditable service.
(C)
$15,000 per year, if the officer has 10 or more years of creditable service.
(5)
An officer who is entitled to variable special pay under paragraph (2) or (3) and who is board certified is entitled to additional special pay at the following rates:
(A)
$2,500 per year, if the officer has less than 10 years of creditable service.
(B)
$3,500 per year, if the officer has at least 10 but less than 12 years of creditable service.
(C)
$4,000 per year, if the officer has at least 12 but less than 14 years of creditable service.
(D)
$5,000 per year, if the officer has at least 14 but less than 18 years of creditable service.
(E)
$6,000 per year, if the officer has 18 or more years of creditable service.
(6)
section 302(b) of this title An officer described in paragraph (1) who is an oral or maxillofacial surgeon may be paid incentive special pay at the same rates, and subject to the same terms and conditions, as incentive special pay available for medical officers under .
(b)

Active-Duty Agreement .—

(1)
An officer may not be paid additional special pay under paragraph (4) or (6) of subsection (a) for any 12-month period unless the officer first executes a written agreement under which the officer agrees to remain on active duty for a period of not less than one year beginning on the date the officer accepts the award of such special pay.
(2)
section 303a(a) of this titlesection 303a(e) of this title Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense under , the Secretary of the military department concerned may terminate at any time an officer’s entitlement to the special pay authorized by paragraph (4) or (6) of subsection (a). If such entitlement is terminated, the officer concerned shall be subject to the repayment provisions of .
(c)

Regulations .—

section 303a(a) of this titleRegulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense under shall include standards for determining—
(1)
whether an officer is undergoing internship or residency training for purposes of subsections (a)(2)(A), (a)(2)(B), and (a)(4); and
(2)
whether an officer is board certified for purposes of subsection (a)(5).
(d)

Frequency of Payments .—

Special pay payable to an officer under paragraphs (2), (3), and (5) of subsection (a) shall be paid monthly. Special pay payable to an officer under paragraph (4) or (6) of subsection (a) shall be paid annually at the beginning of the 12-month period for which the officer is entitled to such payment.
(e)

Repayment .—

section 303a(e) of this titleAn officer who does not complete the period of active duty specified in the agreement referred to in subsection (b) shall be subject to the repayment provisions of .
(f)

Determination of Creditable Service .—

For purposes of this section, creditable service of an officer is computed by adding—
(1)
all periods which the officer spent in dental internship or residency training during which the officer was not on active duty; and
(2)
all periods of active service in the Dental Corps of the Army or Navy, as an officer of the Air Force designated as a dental officer, or as a dental officer of the Public Health Service.
(g)

Reserve Dental Officers Special Pay .—

(1)
A reserve dental officer described in paragraph (2) is entitled to special pay at the rate of $350 a month for each month of active duty, including active duty in the form of annual training, active duty for training, and active duty for special work.
(2)
A reserve dental officer referred to in paragraph (1) is a reserve officer who—
(A)
is an officer of the Dental Corps of the Army or the Navy or an officer of the Air Force designated as a dental officer; and
(B)
is on active duty under a call or order to active duty for a period of less than one year.

Pub. L. 93–274, § 1(2)88 Stat. 94Pub. L. 96–284, § 4(b)94 Stat. 591Pub. L. 99–145, title VI, § 639(a)99 Stat. 649Pub. L. 102–25, title VII, § 702(b)(1)105 Stat. 117Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title VI, § 615(a)110 Stat. 2545Pub. L. 105–85, div. A, title VI, § 618111 Stat. 1789Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title VI119 Stat. 3295Pub. L. 109–364, div. A, title VI, § 615(a)120 Stat. 2249Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title VI, § 616(a)122 Stat. 150(Added , , ; amended , , ; , , ; , (2), (c), , ; , (b), (e), , , 2547; , , ; , §§ 625, 626, 687(b)(6), , , 3328; , , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 110–181, § 616(a)(1)2008—Subsec. (a)(4). , substituted “at a rate determined by the Secretary concerned, which rate may not exceed the following” for “at the following rates” in introductory provisions.

Pub. L. 110–181, § 616(a)(2)Subsec. (a)(4)(A). , substituted “$10,000” for “$4,000”.

Pub. L. 110–181, § 616(a)(3)Subsec. (a)(4)(B). , substituted “$12,000” for “$6,000”.

Pub. L. 109–163, § 625(a)(1)2006—Subsec. (a). , substituted “Board Certification, and Incentive” for “and Board Certification” in heading.

Pub. L. 109–364Subsec. (a)(4). in introductory provisions substituted “An officer who is entitled to variable special pay under paragraph (2) or (3) is also entitled to additional special pay for any 12-month period during which an agreement executed under subsection (b) is in effect with respect to the officer” for “Subject to subsection (b), an officer entitled to variable special pay under paragraph (2) or (3) also is entitled to additional special pay for any 12-month period during which the officer is not undergoing dental internship or initial residency training”.

Pub. L. 109–163, § 626, inserted “also” before “is entitled” and “initial” before “residency” in introductory provisions.

Pub. L. 109–163, § 625(a)(2)Subsec. (a)(6). , added par. (6).

Pub. L. 109–163, § 625(b)Subsec. (b). , substituted “paragraph (4) or (6) of subsection (a)” for “subsection (a)(4)” in two places.

Pub. L. 109–163, § 687(b)(6)(A)Subsec. (b)(2). , added second sentence and struck out former second sentence which read as follows: “If such entitlement is terminated, the officer concerned is entitled to be paid such special pay only for the part of the period on active duty that the officer served, and the officer may be required to refund any amount in excess of that entitlement.”

Pub. L. 109–163, § 625(b)Subsec. (d). , substituted “paragraph (4) or (6) of subsection (a)” for “subsection (a)(4)”.

Pub. L. 109–163, § 687(b)(6)(B)Subsec. (e). , added subsec. (e) and struck out heading and text of former subsec. (e). Text read as follows: “An officer who voluntarily terminates service on active duty before the end of the period for which a payment was made to such officer under subsection (a)(4) shall refund to the United States an amount which bears the same ratio to the amount paid to such officer as the unserved part of such period bears to the total period for which the payment was made.”

Pub. L. 109–163, § 687(b)(6)(C)Subsecs. (f) to (h). , (D), redesignated subsecs. (g) and (h) as (f) and (g), respectively, and struck out heading and text of former subsec. (f). Text read as follows: “A discharge in bankruptcy under title 11 shall not release a person from an obligation to reimburse the United States required under the terms of an agreement described in subsection (b) if the final decree of the discharge in bankruptcy was issued within a period of five years after the last day of a period which such person had agreed to serve on active duty. This subsection applies to a discharge in bankruptcy in any proceeding which begins after .”

Pub. L. 105–85, § 618(a)1997—Subsec. (a)(2)(C) to (G). , added subpars. (C) to (G) and struck out former subpars. (C) to (F) which read as follows:

“(C) $7,000 per year, if the officer has at least six but less than 10 years of creditable service.

“(D) $6,000 per year, if the officer has at least 10 but less than 14 years of creditable service.

“(E) $4,000 per year, if the officer has at least 14 but less than 18 years of creditable service.

“(F) $3,000 per year, if the officer has 18 or more years of creditable service.”

Pub. L. 105–85, § 618(b)Subsec. (a)(3). , substituted “$7,000” for “$1,000”.

Pub. L. 105–85, § 618(c)Subsec. (a)(4)(B) to (D). , added subpars. (B) and (C) and struck out former subpars. (B) to (D) which read as follows:

“(B) $6,000 per year, if the officer has at least three but less than 14 years of creditable service.

“(C) $8,000 per year, if the officer has at least 14 but less than 18 years of creditable service.

“(D) $10,000 per year, if the officer has at least 18 or more years of creditable service.”

Pub. L. 104–201, § 615(e)(1)1996—Subsec. (a). , inserted heading.

Pub. L. 104–201, § 615(a)(1)Subsec. (a)(2). , substituted “$3,000” for “$1,200” in subpar. (A), “$7,000” for “$2,000” in subpar. (B), and “$7,000” for “$4,000” in subpar. (C).

Pub. L. 104–201, § 615(a)(2)Subsec. (a)(4). , added subpars. (A) to (D) and struck out former subpars. (A) to (C) which read as follows:

“(A) $6,000 per year, if the officer has at least three but less than 14 years of creditable service.

“(B) $8,000 per year, if the officer has at least 14 but less than 18 years of creditable service.

“(C) $10,000 per year, if the officer has 18 or more years of creditable service.”

Pub. L. 104–201, § 615(a)(3)Subsec. (a)(5). , added subpars. (A) to (E) and struck out former subpars. (A) to (C) which read as follows:

“(A) $2,000 per year, if the officer has less than 12 years of creditable service.

“(B) $3,000 per year, if the officer has at least 12 but less than 14 years of creditable service.

“(C) $4,000 per year, if the officer has 14 or more years of creditable service.”

Pub. L. 104–201, § 615(e)(2)Subsecs. (b) to (g). –(7), inserted headings.

Pub. L. 104–201, § 615(b)Subsec. (h). , added subsec. (h).

Pub. L. 102–251991— struck out “of this section” wherever appearing, except in subsec. (g), and struck out “of this subsection” wherever appearing.

Pub. L. 99–1451985— amended section generally, substituting “Special pay: dental officers of the armed forces” for “Special pay: dentists” in section catchline and new text for former text which read as follows: “An officer of the Army or Navy in the Dental Corps, an officer of the Air Force who is designated as a dental officer, or a dental officer of the Public Health Service, who is on active duty for a period of at least one year is entitled to special pay at the following rates—

“(1) $100 a month for each month of active duty if he has not completed two years of active duty in the Dental Corps or as a dental officer;

“(2) $150 a month for each month of active duty if he has completed at least two years of active duty in the Dental Corps or as a dental officer;

“(3) $250 a month for each month of active duty if he has completed at least six years of active duty in the Dental Corps or as a dental officer; or

“(4) $350 a month for each month of active duty if he has completed at least ten years of active duty in the Dental Corps or as a dental officer.”

Pub. L. 96–2841980— struck out “, in addition to any other pay or allowances to which he is entitled,” after “entitled” and last sentence containing prohibition against inclusion of active duty monthly special pay in computation of amount of increase in pay authorized in any other provision of this title or in computation of retired pay or severance pay.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2008 Amendment

Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title VI, § 616(b)122 Stat. 150

section 302b(b) of title 37“The amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall apply with respect to agreements entered into under , United States Code, on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [].”
, , , provided that:

Effective Date of 2006 Amendment

Pub. L. 109–364, div. A, title VI, § 615(b)120 Stat. 2249

“The amendment made by this section [amending this section] shall take effect on .”
, , , provided that:

Effective Date of 1985 Amendment

Pub. L. 99–145, title VI, § 639(f)99 Stat. 651

section 311 of this title“The amendments made by this section [amending this section, repealing , and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section] take effect on .”
, , , provided that:

Effective Date

section 2 of Pub. L. 93–274section 302 of this titleSection effective , see , set out as an Effective Date of 1974 Amendment note under .

Savings Provision

section 687(b) of Pub. L. 109–163section 687(f) of Pub. L. 109–163section 510 of Title 10For savings provision relating to payment or repayment of any bonus, incentive pay, special pay, or similar pay obligated to be paid before , under a provision of this section amended by , see , set out as a note under , Armed Forces.

Authority for Certain Dental Officers To Execute New Agreements

Pub. L. 99–145, title VI, § 639(c)99 Stat. 651

“(1)
section 311 of title 37 Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), a dental officer who on , is performing obligated service under an agreement under , United States Code, that—
“(A)
was executed after ; and
“(B)
section 101(h) of Public Law 98–473 is affected by the limitation in section 8091 of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 1985 (as contained in ),
may execute a new agreement under section 302b of such title (as amended by subsection (a)).
“(2)
section 302b of title 37 A dental officer may not execute a new agreement under paragraph (1) unless the amount that may be paid such officer under an agreement under , United States Code (as amended by subsection (a)), is greater than the amount to be paid the officer under the existing agreement of the officer under section 311 of such title.
“(3)
In executing a written agreement under paragraph (1), the officer shall agree to remain on active duty for an additional length of time equal to or exceeding the length of time originally required by the existing agreement, beginning on the date the officer accepts the award of special pay under the new agreement.
“(4)
If a new agreement is executed under this subsection, the existing agreement of the officer shall be canceled.
“(5)
section 101 of title 10 For the purposes of this section, the term ‘dental officer’ has the meaning given that term in , United States Code.”
, , , provided that:

Minimum Special Pay

Pub. L. 99–145, title VI, § 639(d)99 Stat. 651Pub. L. 99–661, div. A, title XIII, § 1342(c)100 Stat. 3991

“(1)
section 302b of title 37section 311 of title 37 An officer described in paragraph (2) who, after , is entitled to special pay under , United States Code (as amended by subsection (a)), may (notwithstanding the provisions of such section and in the discretion of the Secretary concerned) be paid such pay, in order to prevent inequities, in an annual amount equal to the total annual amount of dental continuation pay under , United States Code, and special pay for dental officers under section 302b of that title to which that officer would have been entitled on , in accordance with the status of the officer (as determined by the Secretary concerned) during the period for which the pay is paid. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, an officer may not be paid special pay by reason of this paragraph in an amount greater than the amount of special pay to which the officer was entitled under such sections on .
“(2)
section 311 of title 37 Paragraph (1) applies to an officer who on , is entitled to dental continuation pay under , United States Code; or to special pay for dental officers under section 302b of that title.”
, , , as amended by , , , provided that:

Pub. L. 99–661section 1342(h)(1) of Pub. L. 99–661section 301 of this title[Amendment of this note by effective , see , set out as an Effective Date of 1986 Amendment note under .]